Johor: Organisers of sports leagues and tournaments in Johor must obtain advice and approval from the respective governing bodies to ensure participant safety and compliance with established safety standards, following the death of a 12-year-old footballer during a recent competition.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johor Youth and Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah stated that the requirement was necessary to minimise risks and ensure all sporting events were conducted in accordance with the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs). "I urge every sport to refer to the highest governing body at both the national and state levels. We cannot organise leagues without any advice from the relevant sports association," he mentioned during a press conference after the Johor State Sports Council Clock-In Ceremony.
He expressed that the state government viewed the incident seriously and urged the Johor Football Association (PBNJ) to take proactive measures to ensure every league complied with the stipulated SOPs. Mohd Hairi underscored the need for reviewing safety and medical aspects, urging PBNJ to seriously consider the case and take corrective action or seek appropriate justifications from the organiser.
Mohd Hairi also revealed that checks found the football tournament involving the 12-year-old boy had not gone through the proper approval process. He highlighted the prevalence of unsanctioned leagues in Johor and called for official approvals from relevant sports associations for all sports, not just football, across the state.
He extended his condolences to the victim's family and assured that the state government would work to prevent such incidents from recurring. He also advised parents to ensure their children's competitions are officially recognised by the state sports association or relevant governing body, to ensure adequate safety measures and medical support.
Meanwhile, PBNJ, in a statement yesterday, announced plans to tighten requirements for football tournaments organised by third-party organisers in Johor through the implementation of mandatory Competition Safety SOPs. It warned that organisers failing to comply with prescribed safety SOPs could face consequences, including blacklisting from future football-related activities.
The media reported yesterday that a boy, Danish Hizqeel Mohd Hanif, died after collapsing while participating in an Under-12 football tournament at a sports centre on Saturday.